"KAO WAO" NEWS No. 1

13 November 2001

Split From The Cease-Fire

(Based from local correspondent & Independent Mon News Agency, November 10, 2001)

After the failure of negotiation, the New Mon State Party (NMSP) issued a statement dated on October 31, 2001 denouncing a Mon guerrilla group, led by Col. Pan Nyunt. The statement accused the group leader had involved corruption and broke away from NMSP. Col. Pan Nyunt who is a Central Committee member of the cease-fire NMSP and a senior officer of the Strategic Command, Mon National Liberation Army responded that his aim is to resume fighting against Burmese army for the benefit of Mon people.

In an open letter sent to senior monks and civilian in Mon State, the group leader claimed that there has been no improvement during 6 years of cease-fire agreement between the NMSP and the Burmese military junta. The Mon people are even denied their literature and culture rights, and the regime has not interested to solve the political problems as NMSP has expected. The group promised to fight against the Burmese Army as human rights violation such as forced labour, land confiscation continues in the areas.

The local correspondent said the Burmese Army have restricted against the cease-fire NMSP gradually and deployed more troops close to cease-fire zones to block the activities of NMSP and its arm faction, Mon National Liberation Army (MNLA). The suppression has escalated and NMSP itself is unable to protect abuses, and it resulted to split. About 150 of Mon guerrilla with full arms and ammunitions split from Mon National Liberation Army (MNLA) of NMSP, on September 9, 2001.

The DVB opposition radio, on November 7, has reported a fighting occurred between the Burmese army and a guerrilla group near Leikkok village in Ye township of Mon State. According to the radio, villagers in the area said the guerrilla group included soldiers from a Mon faction under Col. Pan Nyunt, which recently broke from the New Mon State Party. The number of casualties was not known.

Honey Mon

(Mon Unity League, Sangkhalaburi)

With the support of the Finnish Burma Committee for community development, the Mon Unity League (MUL) is producing honey under the brand name of "Honey Mon". Nai Sunthorn, the bee farm project supervisor and leader of MUL said "Honey Mon" produces 100% pure honey that is enriched with vitamins, minerals, and natural sugars for quick energy. The product contains no artificial flavouring and the quality and natural flavour is guaranteed. For those who are interested in buying some of this product or want to know more about the bee project please contact MUL bee farm at Sangkhalaburi, Kanchanaburi Thailand or email at [email protected]

Learn More Rights

(Chiang Mai, Nov 4, 2001) On November 4, 2001, a representative of the Mon Unity League (MUL) participated in a meeting organized by the National Reconciliation Programme (NRP) and Human Rights Education Institute of Burma (HREIB) in Chiang Mai with organizations that provide training along the Burma border. The meetings were held for the purpose of sharing the various programs of training developed by the different organizations situated along the border and to find better ways of cooperating and to develop a more efficient system of support for better networking. It also aims to avoid overlapping issues and target groups. Several organizations which provide services on Burma such as Earth Rights International (ERI), Burma Relief Centre (BRC), Friends Without Borders, Burma Lawyers Council (BLC), Network for Democracy and Development (NDD) and women, youth and ethnic based organizations from Karen, Kachin, Palaung, PaO, Shan, Mon attended the one day gathering. The meeting had decided to build a bridge of closer understanding among the service providers and target groups, and to initiate a seminar on developing a basic curriculum for the teaching of human rights and collect information and data on activities of service providers for future cooperation.

Solidarity Building

(Bangkok, November 5, 2001)

A solidarity meeting was held in Bangkok, Thailand, between the Mon and the Canadian unionists on November 2, 2001. A group of delegates from the Canadian Trade Unions led by the Director of Canada Asia Pacific Resource Network, Ms. Joie Warnock, met with the Secretary General of the Mon Unity League (MUL), Nai Sunthorn Sripanngern on their solidarity visit to Asia and Pacific region. The Coordinator of Mon Workers Union, Cham Toik, described the situation facing the Mon migrant workers in Thailand, while other MUL leaders gave a briefing of the Mon people and their struggle back home in Burma.

The Canadian group will continue their trip on to northern and western Thailand to meet with other labour and democratic groups. The meeting was a chance for MUL?s cause to increase public awareness of Mon culture and its people, which is one of the major ethnic groups found in Burma and Thailand and has been and is a major contributor to the growth of civilization in South East Asia, the issue will not be forgotten. At present, many thousands of Mons live in Thailand as undocumented workers after fleeing home from southern Burma. Among the estimated 700,000 alien workers in Thailand, most have come from Burma. In the fishing community of about 100,000 workers in Samutsahorn Province, 80% are from the Mon nationality of Burma.

Community Training

(Chiang Mai, November 8, 2001)

A community training organized by the Free Burma Ranger has taken place in Chiang Mai on 5-8 November 2001. The training was facilitated by Mr. Davis Uban and Ms. Ami Davidson. Kun Yekkha of Mon Unity League (Youth Section) spoke to "Kao Wao" that he was able to join the gathering together with various participants from democratic and ethnic nationalities groups from Burma. Participants were able to learn and discuss both theory and practically how to communicate people and getting news to media effectively during that four days training at Doi Suthep.

"Kao Wao" news group

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